By Shaniya Medlin, Rachel Hodges, Suzanne Leonard of North Carolina State University
Pigs undergo multiple stressors at weaning. They are weaned from the sow, mixed with other pigs, and often transported on trucks for several hours to a new environment. Additionally, young pigs have a high surface area to volume ratio and little body fat, making it challenging for them to regulate their own body temperature.
Providing an environment at the appropriate temperature for young pigs, in both nurseries and wean-to-finish facilities, reduces the energy pigs need to spend on keeping warm and promotes growth and feed efficiency.
In most facilities and climates, the heat produced by the pigs may not be enough to achieved the desired environmental temperature and an additional heat source is required. There are several commercially available heat sources for young pigs, with the most common types being forced air heaters, heat lamps, gas-fired brooders, and radiant tube heaters (Table 1). The size, number, and position of the heaters will vary with specific facility set up and heating requirements, as well as typical weather patterns for the facility’s location.
Regardless of heat source, proper operation and maintenance are critical to providing the appropriate environment for young pigs. Monitoring the environment with temperature probes, observing pig behavior, and thermal cameras can all help ensure the provided environment meets the thermal needs of the pigs.
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